High-speed rail and Transit-Oriented Development: Right, from the start (Source: examiner.com)

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High-speed rail and Transit-Oriented Development: Right, from the start

August 18, 12:20 PM
Fresno Green Transportation ExaminerAlan

High-speed rail is transportation that’s been elusive here and by this I mean it hasn’t materialized in America – not yet, but interest is certainly there and with vision, commitment, money, and tremendous government and public or user support, HSR will arrive! Where American HSR is going in is pretty much known. What remains to be determined is when it’ll be completed.

Assuming California gets high-speed rail up and running (and it should be a pretty good assumption at that), there's also the assumption that HSR stations will be TOD anchors (I’ll even go so far as to say “magnets”); i.e., for mixed-use, high-density Transit-Oriented Development.

According to Andrew Schweizer in the August 10, 2009 San Diego Business Journal article: “Rail Stops Envisioned as Starting Points for Development,” he refers to state HSR as “mass transit” and because it could be thought of as such, it seems only natural mixed-use, high-density station-connected or station-centered development would be in the offing once station construction is underway – or maybe even prior to.

“’I think not only is it something that is a good thing, it’s certainly going to be a phenomenal planning tool for the next generation of growth,’ said Perry Dealy, president of Dealy Development. ‘The opportunity to take the high-speed stop hubs and convert them to maximize their mixed-use, high-density potential is great. You’d have what I’d call a TOD, transit-oriented design, starting with residential, work-live, retail, entertainment and other kinds of venues that are part of the mixed-use characteristics,’” Schweizer wrote, quoting Dealy, of course.

I think Dealy is spot on.

Added Schweizer, “Construction most likely would start at the major stations in Los Angeles and Sacramento.” I believe the San Diego Business Journal staff writer, too, is on track.

What would have been surprising, on the other hand, is if Schweizer had named Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced or any other planned Valley HSR station location as venues to be among the firsts in state where TOD would commence. I say this with a relative high level of confidence, as the San Joaquin Valley is not somewhere one thinks of as TOD Meccas. Here’s hoping that all changes though.

So, too, here’s hoping California high-speed rail is well patronized when it gets built. Here’s also hoping a wave of mixed-use, high (or at least higher) density commercial and residential development commences at every planned station location, TOD just makes good sense – policy and business-wise. The proof is out there.